Method, Apparatus and Computer Program for Selectable Operation of a Network Node

Abstract

A network node ( 100 ) enabled to work, within a cellular communication system comprising a plurality of base stations ( 102 ), according to a device-to-device, D2D communication mode is disclosed. The network node ( 100 ) can also have backhaul ( 600 ) capability via a second communication network ( 602 ) distinct from a backbone network ( 502 ) of the cellular communication network and is enabled to provide D2D communication by direct or multi-hop communication with other nodes or terminals ( 104, 106 ) on a peer level for providing service via the second communication network ( 602 ) when operating in the D2D communication mode. The network node ( 100 ) can have backhaul ( 500 ) capability via a backbone network ( 502 ) of the cellular communication network, wherein the network node ( 100 ) is further enabled to work according to a device-to-device, D2D communication mode within and under control of the cellular communication network. Methods and computer program are also disclosed.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A network node configured to operate according to a device-to-device (D2D) communication mode within a cellular communication system comprising a plurality of base stations, wherein the network node also has backhaul capability via a second communication network distinct from a backbone network of the cellular communication network and is enabled to provide D2D communication by direct or multi-hop communication with other nodes or terminals on a peer level for providing service via the second communication network when operating in the D2D communication mode. 
     
     
         24 . The network node of  claim 23 , wherein the network node is further configured to operate according to a base station communication mode where the network node, when operating in the base station communication mode, acts as a base station. 
     
     
         25 . The network node of  claim 24 , wherein the base station communication mode comprises providing backhaul via the second communication network to nodes or terminals within a cell served by the network node. 
     
     
         26 . A network node configured to operate according to a base station communication mode within a cellular communication network comprising a plurality of base stations, where the network node acts as a base station, wherein the network node further has backhaul capability via a backbone network of the cellular communication network, wherein the network node is further configured to work according to a device-to-device (D2D) communication mode. 
     
     
         27 . The network node of  claim 26 , where the network node, when operating in the D2D communication mode, is configured to provide D2D communication by direct or multi-hop communication with other nodes or terminals on a peer level for providing service via the backbone network. 
     
     
         28 . The network node of  claim 27 , where the network node, when operating in the D2D communication mode, is configured to act as D2D service point node enabling nodes or terminals, with which D2D communication is performed on a peer level, to gain service via the backbone network. 
     
     
         29 . The network node of  claim 26 , wherein the base station communication mode comprises providing backhaul via the backbone network to nodes or terminals within a cell served by the network node. 
     
     
         30 . The network node of  claim 23 , wherein the network node is further configured to selectably work according to either the device-to-device (D2D) communication mode or the base station communication mode, and wherein the network node is configured to select the base station communication mode or the D2D communication mode, or make transitions between the base station communication mode and the D2D communication mode, based on a predetermined traffic criteria. 
     
     
         31 . The network node of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined traffic criteria that causes a transition from the D2D communication mode to the base station communication mode comprises that the number of terminals involved in D2D communication with the network node reaches a predetermined number. 
     
     
         32 . The network node of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined traffic criteria that causes a transition from the D2D communication mode to the base station communication mode comprises that a service type provided by the communication with any terminal of other terminals requires a predetermined quality of service. 
     
     
         33 . The network node of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined traffic criteria that causes a transition from the base station communication mode to the D2D communication mode comprises that the network node lack capability to meet service or traffic demands when operating in the base station communication mode. 
     
     
         34 . The network node of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined traffic criteria that causes a transition from the base station communication mode to the D2D communication mode comprises that an interference level occurring between the cells operating in a heterogeneous network relation exceeds a predetermined level when operating in the base station communication mode. 
     
     
         35 . The network node of  claim 30 , being further configured to, at startup of its operation, select the D2D communication mode, or be arranged to, at startup of its operation, select a user equipment (UE) communication mode. 
     
     
         36 . The network node of  claim 30 , being configured to receive control information from a control node of the cellular communication system for enabling the work under control of the cellular communication network, wherein selection of D2D communication mode or base station communication mode is made from said control information. 
     
     
         37 . The network node of  claim 36 , wherein the control information is received from any of a base station of the cellular communication system, a different radio network or core network node, an operation and maintenance node. 
     
     
         38 . The network node of  claim 30 , wherein a base station serving a cell, within which the network node operates, applies frequency division duplex for uplink and downlink communication, and wherein the communication under the D2D communication mode is arranged to use only frequencies allocated to the base station for the uplink. 
     
     
         39 . The network node of  claim 30 , wherein a base station operating a cell, within which the network node operates, applies frequency division duplex for uplink and downlink communication, and the communication under the base station communication mode is arranged to apply frequency division duplex for uplink and downlink communication and using frequencies allocated to the base station. 
     
     
         40 . A method of operating a network node network node configured to operate according to a device-to-device (D2D) communication mode within a cellular communication system comprising a plurality of base stations, wherein the network node also has backhaul capability via a second communication network distinct from a backbone network of the cellular communication network and is enabled to provide D2D communication by direct or multi-hop communication with other nodes or terminals on a peer level for providing service via the second communication network when operating in the D2D communication mode, the method comprising:
 selecting the base station communication mode or the D2D communication mode, or making transitions between the base station communication mode and the D2D communication mode, based on a predetermined traffic criteria.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein selecting comprises any of:
 causing a transition from the D2D communication mode to the base station communication mode when the number of terminals involved in D2D communication with the network node reaches a predetermined number;   causing a transition from the D2D communication mode to the base station communication mode when a service type provided by the communication requires a predetermined quality of service;   causing a transition from the base station communication mode to the D2D communication mode when the network node lack capability to meet service or traffic demands when operating in the base station communication mode; and   causing a transition from the base station communication mode to the D2D communication mode when an interference level occurring between the cells operating in a heterogeneous network relation exceeds a predetermined level when operating in the base station communication mode.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , comprising selecting the D2D communication mode at startup of operation of the network node or comprising selecting a user equipment (UE) communication mode at startup of operation of the network node. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 receiving control information from a node of the cellular communication system for enabling the work under control of the cellular communication network; and   determining which of D2D communication mode or base station communication mode to select from said control information.   
     
     
         44 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising, stored thereupon, a computer program comprising computer-executable program code that, when executed by processing circuitry in a network node configured to operate according to a device-to-device (D2D) communication mode within a cellular communication system comprising a plurality of base stations, wherein the network node also has backhaul capability via a second communication network distinct from a backbone network of the cellular communication network and is enabled to provide D2D communication by direct or multi-hop communication with other nodes or terminals on a peer level for providing service via the second communication network when operating in the D2D communication mode, causes the network node to:
 select the base station communication mode or the D2D communication mode, or making transitions between the base station communication mode and the D2D communication mode, based on a predetermined traffic criteria.